New School Accuses Ole Miss Football of Tampering Amid Dabo Swinney, Clemson Claim

Fresno State joins Clemson in accusing Ole Miss of improper contact with players, adding to NCAA investigation.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 12:15pm

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The NCAA is investigating Ole Miss football for alleged tampering after Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney accused the Rebels of improper contact with a player who initially signed with the Tigers. Now, Fresno State has also come forward claiming Ole Miss tampered with one of their star players, adding to the growing scrutiny around the program.

Why it matters

Tampering allegations against a major college football program like Ole Miss can have serious consequences, including potential NCAA sanctions and damage to the program's reputation. The investigations also raise broader questions about the ethics and rules governing player recruitment in the age of the transfer portal.

The details

According to reports, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney accused Ole Miss of "blatant tampering" after a player named Luke Ferrelli initially signed with Clemson but then later joined the Rebels. Swinney said Ole Miss was in contact with Ferrelli while he was still enrolled at Clemson. Now, Fresno State has also come forward claiming Ole Miss tampered with one of their star receivers, Josiah Freeman, a sixth-year senior. Fresno State says they have evidence to support their allegations, and NCAA investigators have been in contact with the school.

  • On January 29, 2026, Dabo Swinney made the tampering accusations against Ole Miss in a press conference.
  • This week, NCAA investigators contacted Fresno State regarding the alleged tampering with player Josiah Freeman.

The players

Pete Golding

The head coach of the Ole Miss Rebels football team, who is at the center of the tampering allegations.

Dabo Swinney

The head coach of the Clemson Tigers football team, who first accused Ole Miss of tampering with one of his players.

Luke Ferrelli

A player who initially signed with Clemson but then later joined the Ole Miss Rebels, sparking Swinney's tampering accusations.

Josiah Freeman

A sixth-year senior receiver for the Fresno State Bulldogs, who Fresno State claims Ole Miss tampered with.

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What they’re saying

“There's tampering, and then there's blatant tampering. Tampering 101 is when you're talking to kids who aren't in the portal. Tampering 201 is when you've already negotiated the deal with the kids not in the portal. Tampering 301 is when you've got a kid who's going in the portal to sign somewhere, move there, going to classes and you're texting them while they're in class. That's like a whole 'nother level of tampering.”

— Dabo Swinney, Head Coach, Clemson Tigers

What’s next

The NCAA will continue its investigation into the tampering allegations against Ole Miss, and could potentially impose sanctions on the program if the claims are substantiated.

The takeaway

The tampering accusations against Ole Miss highlight the complex and sometimes murky world of player recruitment in college football, especially in the era of the transfer portal. The investigations will test the NCAA's ability to enforce its rules and maintain integrity in the sport.